xt73xs5jdh5p https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt73xs5jdh5p/data/mets.xml Rhode Island Historical Records Survey Project Rhode Island Rhode Island Historical Records Survey Project 1942 80 p.: maps 28 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number: FW 4.14:R 34/no.2/v.4 books  English Providence, R.I.: Rhode Island Historical Records Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Rhode Island Works Progress Administration Publications Archives -- Rhode Island -- Kent County -- Catalogs Genealogy -- Sources--Rhode Island--Kent County Kent County (R.I.) -- History -- Sources Inventory of the Town and City Archives of Rhode Island: No. 2. Kent County, Vol. IV. West Greenwich / prepared by the Rhode Island Historical Records Survey; Division of Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, 1942 text Inventory of the Town and City Archives of Rhode Island: No. 2. Kent County, Vol. IV. West Greenwich / prepared by the Rhode Island Historical Records Survey; Division of Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, 1942 1942 1942 2020 true xt73xs5jdh5p section xt73xs5jdh5p TOWNaC'ITT
ARCHIVES

f
RHODE ISLAND

 

K612i Connly

, H/est Gre en Wiclz

 

 

 INVENTORY OF THE TOWN AND CITY

ARCHIVES OF RHODE ISLAND

NO. 2. Kent County

VOL. IV. WEST GREENWICH

Prepared by
The Rhode Island Historical Records Survey

Division of Service Programs
Work Projects Administration

Sponsored by

State of Rhode Island, Record Commissioner

Providence, Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Historical Records Survey
April 1942

 

  

 

HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY

Sargent B. Child, National Director

DIVISION OF SERVICE PROGRAMS

Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner

Robert Y. Phillips, Chief Regional Supervisor
Margaret N. Staley, State Director

Walter Hackett, State Supervisor

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

Howard 0. Hunter, Commissioner
Farrell D. Coyle, State Administrator

 P R E F A C E

The Historical Records Survey originated by authority of a Presidential
Letter in January 1956 as a nation-wide project of the Work Projects Adminis—
tration. The Survey began to operate in Rhoda Island in April of that year.
Prior to July 1959 the project was Federally sponsored but since that date it
has been sponsored by the State of Rhoda Island under the Office of Record
Commissioner, and operated as a Statewide project. The style and arrange-
ment has been approved by the State officials and follows the recommendations
of the National organization.

The purpose of the Survey is to inventory, organize, and describe the
records in possession of State, city, and town governmental units; also to
inventory church records and manuscript collections of historical societies
and individuals. The inventories thus prepared are to be made available in
volume form to lawyers, historians, officials, students of government, and
the public. In conjunction with these inventories the Survey is to prepare
and make available inventories of civilian organizations, make descriptive
inventories of housing and storage facilities of archives, manuscripts,
records, and museum treasures for emergency deposit in protected areas; also
to assist curators and custodians in preparing priority lists of such mate—
rial.

The Inventory pf the Town and City Archives 2£_Rhode Island will, when
completed, consist of a series, separately numbered for each county in the
State. Counties are numbered according to alphabetical position; towns are
numbered likewise, within each county. The publications of the Survey are
destributed free to State and local officials, and to a selected group of
public and institutional libraries. In addition to listing the records of
the various town officers, this inventory briefly sketches the historical
background of the town of West Greenwich and describes the organization of
the offices whose records are listed. Records are described in formalized
entries to give the following information: title of record, dates for which
available, quantity, labeling of volumes or containers, information on miss—
ing and discontinued records, variant titleS, description of record contents,
manner of arrangement, indexing, nature of recording, Size of volume or con—
tents, and location.

The project gratefully acknowledges the courtesy and cooperation extend-
ed to us by the town officials of West Greenwich and the helpful support
given by Miss Grace M. Sherwood, Record Commissioner and librarian of the
State of Rhode Island, various State officials, and the advisory direction of
Sargent B. Child, National Director of the Historical Records Survey. The
cover design was made for the Inventory by the WPA Rhode Island Art Project,
and the binding of the volume done by the Statewide Library Project, State
House.

R. 1. Historical Records Survey
Providence, R. I.
April 1942

 

 I.
II.

III.

IV.

VI.
VIII

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XVI.

XVII.
XVIII.

XIX.

XXI.

XXII.
XXIII.

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

West Greenwich and its Record System

Abbreviations, Symbols, and Explanatory Notes . . .
Historical Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Town Offices and their Records

Town MOderator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Town Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants; Minutes

Town Council . . . . . . . . . .

Papers; Proceedings; Accounts and Orders;
Jury; Reports; Voting

Probate Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Papers; Proceedings; Bonds; Docket; Wills
Town Clerk . . . . . . . . . . .

Property Records; Vital Statistics; Census;
Licenses and Registrations; Maps and Plats;
Military Records; Naturalization; Professional
Register; Voting; Miscellaneous

Town Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Assessors of Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minutes; Records; Automobiles; Miscellaneous

Collector of Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tax List; Receipts; Tax Levies

Town Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Records and Orders; Deeds and Bonds

Town Auditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Board of Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Health Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chief of Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Records

Constables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Sunday and First— —Day Constables

Police Constable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pound— —Keeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appraiser of Damage done by Dogs . . . . . . . . .
School Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Proceedings; Census; Accounts and Orders;
Records and Reports
Superintendent of Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Census; Academic Records; Attendance
and Enrollment; Clinical Reports;
Teachers and Nhscellaneous
Truant Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
School Census Enumerator . . . . . . . . . . . .
Director of Public Welfare . . . . . . . . . . . .
Local Director of Aid to Dependent Children . . . .

Page
Vi

ll

15

l?

31
32

54
36

4O
41
42
45

44

45
46
47
47

52

55
55
56
56

 

 Table of Contents Page
XXIV. Supervisor of Highways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
XXV. Fence Viewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
XXVI. Tree Warden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
XXVII. Town Forest Warden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Permits; Reports
XXVIII. Sealer of Weights and Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6O
XXIX. Auctioneer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
XXX. Corder of Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
XXXI. Sealer of Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
XXXII. Tramp Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
XXXIII. Officer to Attend Burials of Honorably Discharged
Soldiers, Sailors and marines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
XXXIV. Supervisors of Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
XXXV. Gauger of Casks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
XXXVI. Packer of Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Defunct Offices

XXXNII. Unemployment Work Relief Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Commissioner of Public Works; ‘
Applications; Reports
XXXVIII. Flax and Hemp Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XXXIX. Measurer of Timber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XL. Viewers of Freeholds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XLI. Field Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XLII. Town Solicitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XllII. Surveyor of Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XIIV. Special Constables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
XLV. Justice of the Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Trial Justice
XLVI. Coroner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Subject Index to Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

 

 -Vi...

ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS, AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

A. & R.

A. D.
alpha.
approx.

A., R. & R.

arr.
Art.
aver.
bdl(s).
C. C. C.
C. E.
ch.
chron.
Co.
Const.
Dept.
env(s).
Esq.
etc.

f. d.
Gen. Stat.
G. L.
hdw.
hor.
Ibid.
interim
No(s).
numer.
obv.
9-, PP-
passim
P. L.
R.

res.

R. I.

R. I. Col. Recs.

sec.

St.

T. C. R.
T. M. R.
U. S.
vert.
vol(s)
W. P. A.

abbreviated reference citing Acts and Resolves

Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)

alphabetically

approximately

abbreviated reference citing Acts, Resolves and Re—
ports

arranged

Article

average

bundle(s)

Civilian Conservation Corps

Civil Engineer

chapter

chronologically

Company

Constitution

Department

envelope(s)

Esquire

et cetera (and so forth)

file drawer

General Statute

abbreviated reference citing General Laws

handwritten

horizontal

ibidem_(in the same place)

in the meantime

number(s)

numerically

obvious

page, pages

here and there

abbreviated reference citing Public Laws

room

residence

Rhode Island

abbreviated reference citing Rhode Island Colony
Records

section

thus

Street

abbreviated reference citing Town Council Records

abbreviated reference citing Town Meeting Records

United States

vertical

volume(s)

Work Projects Administration

 

 - vii —

Abbreviations, Symbols, and
Explanatory Notes

Symbols
-- . . current, to the closing date of inventory
. . . . . ellipsis, indicating omission of part of a quota—
tion, text, or section
# . number
: . . equals
x . . by
/ . . oblique (and or or)
& . . and
&C . . by itself and

Explanatory Notes

Title: Exact titles of records are written in solid capitals without
parentheses (as in entry 2). In the absence of titles, descriptive titles
have been assigned, which are written in solid capitals and enclosed in
parentheses (as in entry 1). If a record title is not descriptive of the
contents of the record, an assigned explanatory title (or explanatory
words), written with initial capitals and enclosed in parentheses, has been
added (as in entry 4). The current or most recent title of a record is used
as the entry title and title variation is indicated (as in entry 4).

Dates: First and last dates covered by a particular record are shown
in the title line of the entry. Continuous records are shown by a hyphen
between the beginning and closing dates, as 1765-1874 (see entry 17). Lap—
see in the records are indicated by commas between the groups of inclusive
dates, as l776, 78, 80-82, 1862 (see entry 27a). Current dates are indica-
ted by two hyphens, as 1906——. When dates of a record cannot be ascertained,
the expression "undated" is used.

Quantity: When two or more types of containers are considered in a
single entry, the quantity is shown in chronological order, insofar as
possible.

labeling: letters, numbers, or dates in parentheses, following the
number of volumes, file boxes, or other type of container, indicate the la-
beling. If no labeling is indicated, it may be assumed that there is none.

Discontinuance: Where no statement is made that the record was discon-
tinued at the last date shown in the entry, it could not be established defi—
nitely that such was the case. Where no comment is made on the absence of
prior, subsequent, or intermediate records, no definite information could be
obtained.

Description 2: Records: The description of the contents of a record
applies only to the current or most recent record unless a change in con—
tents is actually Shown in a record entry.

 

 

 - viii -

Abbreviations, Symbols, and
Explanatory Notes

Indexing: All indexes to records, unless otherwise stated, are self-
contained.

Dimensions: When the dimensions of file boxes, volumes, etc., vary
greatly the size of the two extremes is given. When two or more types of
containers are considered in an entry, the dimensions item is arranged to
correspond with the quantity item to which they apply. Dimensions are al—
ways given in inches unless otherwise indicated, therefore, the symbol
for inches (") is omitted.

location of Records: When all or the majority of the records of an
office have a common location, the location is indicated in the last sen-
tence of the office essay instead of each individual entry.

Cross References: Title-line cross references are used in the master
entry to complete a series for records kept separately for a period of time,
and in other records for different periods of time, as in entry 11:
"1741-1829 in Council Records (Minutes of Proceedings), entry 4-b; 1828-46
in Probate Record of Wills, entry lé-m." The sub—entries 4—b and 14-m refer
the searcher directly to the master entry ll, which carries complete cross
references for the record series.

Third—paragraph cross references are given to show related records, or
to prior, intermediate, coextensive, and subsequent records which are not
a part of the same series.

For complete references to any subject, consult the subject index.

Arrangement: This item is used to show the logical order or planned
sequence by which items have been entered in records; it means the internal
arrangement of records in volumes, file boxes, or other containers, and not
the arrangement of volumes on a shelf. Entries in tabular form are arranged
alphabetically by subject matter, and chronologically thereunder. The arrr
rangement, dimensions, and location shown at the end of each entry, in the
case of an entry in tabular form, apply to the whole entry and not to in-
dividual parts thereof.

 

 C O N N E C T I C U T
State Boundary As Defined By The

MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS

ATTLEBORO GORE:
Disputed Territory.
B een Rhode Island >

 

          
           
   
  
 
  

     
  
 

      

Charter Of I6 6 3

 

 

 

An assachusettsl m
l m
>
\ O
P R O V l D E N C E I
la 0 c
A HO O 32 “T m
E T r E \, F1
'5 m I “C, O l— 81> Q j
T ._ m
U E \J z 3 38,93 0209 U’
E u I m ‘< U 02...!)  a >.m “a"
E T a: ‘- m L. L c< a)
:1: 2 Im a g g o o
T Z c oU=>‘ c:
o >~ l' 3 .- (0 t»
P' T n a “U “U
C a. 2 (33:5 ‘;
m a: i _. _ _ I—EUNTY/{
{Changed From King‘s Cou l

AVE .LJ. EISNVOVaavN

     

I730— I939

 

 

True Position Of Block Island
Relative To
Rhode Island Mainland

EVOLUTION OF THE TOWNS IN KENT COUNTY

 

  

TOWN

 

GOVERNMENT OF WEST GREENWICH, R.I. IS4O

 

 

ELECTIVE TOWN MEETING

(EIeCToraTe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

  
     
   
 

 

    
  
 

   
  
     
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOWN SCHOOL ASSESSORS TOWN DIRECTOR
TREASURER COMMITTEE OF TAXES MODERATOR SERGEANT TOWN CLERK or pUBLIC
2 Years 3 MEMBERS 3 MEMBERS 2 Years 2 Years 2 Years WELFARE
4 Years 2 Years 2 Years
CLERK
TOWN COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL
5 MEMBERS 2 Years
SUPERINTENDENT TRUANT I PROBATE COURT I CLERK
OF SCHOOLS OFFICER I BOARD OF CANVASSERS ‘— PROBATE COURT
| Year I Year
BOARD OF CANVASSERS CLERK
AND REGISTRATION BOARD OF
(ELECTION DAY) CANVASSERS
Em SC HOO L B EQREDN 52': 5
[:I Elective Offices CENSUS COMMISSIONERS SUPERVISORS CLERK
. . . ENUMERATOR | OF ELECTION BOARD OF
-- ~-Ex OHICIO OIfIces I Year I BOARD OF (ELECTION DAY) LICENSE
O Appointive Offices L HEALTH J COMMISSIONERS

 

 

 

 

 

   
  
 
    
     
   

   
  

fficer To
Attend Burials
Of Honorably
Discharged
Soldiers,SaI'Iors
And Marines
I Year

  
 

LOCAL
DIRECTOR
OF AID TO

CHILDREN
3 Years

    
   
   
     
 

DEPENDENT

  
 

2
APPRAISERS
OF DAMAGE
DONE BY DOGS
2 Years

  
 

    
     

       
   
 

SUPERVISOR
OF
HIGHWAYS
I Year

SEALER
OF
LEATHER
2 Years

 

COLLECTOR

  
     

  
   

SEALER OF WARDEN
WEIGHTS & AND
MEASURES 4 DISTRICT

 

2 Years

 

I

   

 

    

FOREST

WARDE NS
Year

 

CHIEF OF
POLIC E
( 2 Years )
And

   
 

 

 

 

 

2

GAUGE R OF
AUCTIONEERS
2 Years

CASKS
2 Years

 

 

PAC KER OF

FISH
2 Years

 

 

POUND
KEEPER
2 Years

TRAMP
OFFICER
2 Years

 

FENCE

VIEWER
2 Years

HEALTH
OFFICER
I Year

TOWN

 

AUDITOR
2 Years

2

CONSTABLES
2 Years

 

 

4O POLICE

 (First entry, p. 9).

l. HISTORICAL SKETCH

In.OctOber 1740, tho”W35t0ranStInhabitants" of East Greenwich pre-
sented the following petition to the General Assembly.

“To the Honorable General Assembly of his Majesties Colony of Rhode
Island &0. sitting at Providence in the County of Providence, within and
for said colony on the last Wednesday of October A. D. 1740.

"The Petition of the freemen, Inhabitants of the Westerly part of East
Greenwich, in said County of Providence &c.

"Humbly Sheweth

"That whereas the said Westerly part of said Town, being only an addition
to the same, and that said Town at present being of considerable length
extending from the sea or Salt Water, Westerly to the Dividing Line, that
Divided the Colony and the Colony of Connecticut which is about Seventeen
Miles, and the usual place of meeting in the Town for the doing of Town
Business &c is near the Eastermost Extent of said Town, which causes the
Westermost Inhabitants, considerable Travil Trouble &c. to effect and
accomplish their publick Town affairs: or forego their several priviledges
&c. And their being a sufficient Number of Inhabitants already settled on
the afforesg Westerly part of said Town for a Township, Therefore, Humbly
Prays that they (from the Westerly Line of the Old Township) be set off,
and Incorporated a Township, and called West Greenwich; And that the In-
habitants thereof have and Enjoy such Immunities, Priviledges and Powers
as other Towns in this Colony generally have or do Enjoy; the Which being
Granted your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray &0.

John Green

Ishmael Spink
Benjamin Sweet
John Matteson

Seth Jones

Phillip Green
Thomas Straight
Peter Wreast
Jonathan Matteson
Henry Green
Samuell Spencer
Phillip Ayleworth
Jeremiah Carpenter
Arthur Aylworth
Wm. Sweet, Junr
James Green

Wm. Comestock
Christopher Carpenter

John CaSe

J ohn W ai t

Robert Sweet
Samuel Hopkins
Jeremiah Jones
Nathaniel Niles
Benjamin Spink
John Cass

Henry Summer
Thomas Strait, Jr,
Joseph Hopkins
Richard Sweet Jr.
John Niles
William Reynolds
Joseph Weaver
Henry Matteson Jr.
Joseph Nichols
John Spencer

 

1. Petition to the Rhode Island General Assembly, 1738-42, p. 68.

 

 Historical Sketch

James Reynold
John Jones
Henry MatteSon

(First entry, p. 9).

James Matteson
Benjamin Gardner
Henry Goff, Jr.

”We the Subscribers Freeman and Inhabitants of the Easterly part of
East Greenwich do hereby freely and willingly give our Asent to the above
written Petition, And Humbly Prays the Honourable General Assembly to allow

the Same.

Joseph Norion ?

Anthony Aylsworth

Wm. Baley '

John Fry

Nathan Rice

Joseph Nichols

Joseph Tillinghast
Abner Spencer Son of Michael
John Spencer " " VML
Israel Underwood

Thos. Spencer Jr.

Tho. Goodfellow

Robert Estes

John Coupe

Peter Stevens

Clem? Cocper

Thomas Casey

John Hammett

Thomas Spencer Son of John
Thomas Matteson
John Langford

John Pierce Jr.
Henry Tibbets
Philip Tillinghast
Samuel Soule

Joseph Corey

Peter Spencer

John Godfrey

John Arnold
William Sweet

John Pierce

John Wells

John Andrews
Alexander Nichols
Josiah Burllinggame

"Oct. 31, 174.0 — To the House of Magtes

Resolved that this Petition be referred to next Session of Assembly and that
the Town of E. Greenwich be forw'd with a copy of this Petition & Cited to
appear at next Session of Assembly at the Charge of the Petitioners

Concurred with
per order
Peter Bours, Dept. Sec'y.

Noted and Passed
per order J. Lyndon Clerk

"April 2, 1741 - To the House of Magtes

Gent Resolved that this petition be granted and that after so chosen to let
cut to New Town part of the Bank money and that the Justice of Peace within
new Town remain till first Wednesday & that the Kings Attorney forthwith draw

up and act accordingly.

Concurred with
per order
Jas. Martin Sec'y”

Noted and Passed
Wm. J. Lyndon Clerk

The eastern part of the town made no objection to the division; in
fact, the vote in the town records in regard to the matter shows that they
were not only willing for the change, but even glad.

 

 Iistorical Sketch (First entry, p.9).

"Propositions for setting off the westerly part of said town into a
township by itself, as set forth in a petition now lying before the General
Assembly. The Moderator put it to a vote whether they would give consent
for the setting off the westerly part of said town, as aforesaid, or not,
and the vote was in the affirmative by a very great majority."2

The following act was passed in the General Assembly in April 1741: 5

"An Act for incorporating the West End of the Town of East Greenwich

into a Township, and the same to be distinguished and known by the

name of West Greenwich
"Whereas. Several of the Inhabitants of the aforesaid Town of East Green—
wich by Petition to this Assembly did set forth the great disadvantage They
labour under on account of the great Extent of said Town; And as it is
conceived, It will be more for the Ease and Benefit of all its Inhabitants
in transacting and negociating the prudential Affairs there to have a
Division made.

"Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the Authority
Thereof it is enacted, That from the Westerly Line of the Old Township as
unto the Colony Line be set off and Incorporated a Township, and the Same
to be distinguished and known by the name of West Greenwich; And that the
Inhabitants there of from Time to Time shall have and enjoy the like,
Benefits, Liberties, Priviledges and Immunities with other Towns in this
Colony according to our Charter.

"And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That John Spencer
Esq. a Justice of the Peace living within the afore said new Town remain
in his office till the first Wednesday in May next and that he grant forth
a warrant to call in the Inhabitants of the said Town, together on the
Third Tuesday of this instant April to choose and elect such Town Officers
as they shall have occasion for and the Law directs and to appoint the Time
of their Town.Meeting and the Places, and to choose and elect Two Deputies
to represent Them at the next General Assembly, and soon as by the charter
is directed.

"And it is further enacted by the Authority above said, That said Town shall
send One Petit Juror to the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of ASSize
and General Gaol Delivery; and One Grand and One Petit Juror to the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace.

"And it is further enacted, That there be Two Trustees appointed for the
said new Town, for the letting out of its proportionable Part of the Twenty
Thousand Pounds ordered to be emitted.

"Voted & Resolved that John Spencer Esq. & Mr. John Green be Committee Men
for the Town of West Greenwich to let out their proportionable Part of the
Dank Money.“

 

2. Sieene, op. cit., p. 15.'
3. R. I. 001. Recs., vol. 5, 174l~l756, pp. 430-431.

 

 Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 9)

No record has been found of the appointment of a committee to run the
West Greenwich boundary lines, or of its ever having been run. The original
western boundary of East Greenwich was decided upon as the dividing line
between the two towns, and the southern and northern boundaries continued
in effect in West Greenwich as had been settled for East Greenwich in 1706
and 1888. The only dispute ever recorded in regard to any of these lines
was with Connecticut about the monument at the old southwest corner of War-
wick, which is at present the corner of COVentry and West Greenwich. The
differences were settled, a monument was placed, and the report of the com—
mission was entered in the general assembly records, March 8, 1742/5. 4
Today the boundary limits of West Greenwich, Coventry on the north, Exeter
on the south, East Greenwich on the east, and Connecticut on the west, en—
close an area of 51.52 square miles.

In the early years of its history, the town was a center of rural and
small industrial activity. The first census of the town, taken in 1748,
shows there were 766 inhabitants. In 1755 the population had increased to
1,246, and thereafter, there was a steady growth until the peak was reached
in 1790; census records show there were 2,054 persons in the town at that
date. 5

From 1790 to 1820 there was a slight fluctuation in population, but
generally there was no appreciable change during this period. Beginning
in 1820 the population has declined steadily down to the present. There
seems to have been no single cause for the consistent reduction in the num-
ber of inhabitants, but the advent of the industrial era coupled with the
westward movements seem to have been contributing factors. The building of
railroads, resulting in the abandonment of turnpikes, particularly the New
London turnpike, so-called, perhaps was the event in the locality of West
Greenwich which gave impetus to the downward trend of population. Whatever
may have been the cause, the records show the loss to have been a persistent
decline from 1,927 persons in 1820 to a mere 400 in 1958.

In 1750, Providence County was broken up and Kent County was formed to
include Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, and West Greenwich.7 There was
a great deal of controversy between East Greenwich and Warwick over the
county seat, East Greenwich finally being successful; but West Greenwich
stood apart and apparently manifested not even a mild interest, as no men-
tion is made of the affair in the town records.

The first settlers in the town were farmers, who, in spite of the crude
agricultural methods of the day, managed to make good livings. Perhaps that
is one reason why they were willing to stay in the quiet solitude of the
town and not join in the commercial activity of the coastal settlements.

 

4. R. 1. Col. Recs., vol. 5, p. 59.

5. Louis W. Cappelli, Secretary of State, Manual with Rules and
Orders for the use of the General Assembly of the State of
Rhode Island, 1957— 58, pp. 559, 370.

6. Ibid., pp. 570— “575.

7. Acts & Resolves, Oct. 1747 thOct. 1755, June 1750, pp. 25-25.

 

 

 

 

 

 Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 9).

Also, West Greenwich in its early history was not so isolated, comparatively
speaking, from the outside world as it is now. The New London turnpike, one
of the main highways from New York to Boston, ran through the town, and many
travelers stopping to refresh themselves brought both news from other parts
of the country and a certain amount of trade. In time, when the railroad
replaced the stage—coach as a means of travel, this highway, which was once
a connecting link, was abandoned and deteriorated into a typical country
road.

Several small mills were built in West Greenwich when water—power was
dominant. Cotton cloth and yarn were the chief products manufactured, al-
though others, including carriages and farming implements, were produced in
small quantities. These mills, not being able to stand the competition of
large concerns in other parts of the State, gradually gave way to the pres—
sure, and the manufacturing industry in the town died almost as soon as it
was born.

As early as 1750 steps were taken to provide a formal organiZation for
public worship in the town, by the formation of the West Greenwich Baptist
Society.8 Although the land evidence records reveal that one Samuel Reynolds
in 1764 made a grant of a parcel of land to the society,9 no definite proof
of the erection of a church building appears until 1825, at which time an ed-
ifice was constructed at West Greenwich Center to house the congregation;10
this building has continued to provide accommodations for the original
group's successors in church membership.

In 1850, the Freewill Baptist Church was organized,11 and in 1862 a
building was erected in the Sharpe Street district as a meeting place for
its members.12 This group, although now few in number, continues to hold
services in the original structure. The Advent Chapel was erected at
Escoheag in 1870 by Jason P. Hazard, a distinguished member of this partic-
ular denomination.l5 Regular services have been conducted in the chapel
since the date of its founding.14 In 1885, the Nooseneck Baptist Church
was established;15 and in 1893 a building to house the congregation was
dedicated.16 This structure is located on Nooseneck Hill, and remains a
popular place of worship.

 

8. John A; Bates, Historical Sketch of the West Greenwich Baptist
Church, in Minutes 2£_the Rhode Island Baptist AnniverSaries,
1890, Providence, pp. 20—28.

9. Record of Deeds, (1760—66), pp. 290, 291.

10. Hoag, Wade & 00., History 2£_the State g£_Rhode Island 1636—1878,
1878, Philadelphia, p. 532.

 

 

 

 

 

11. Ibid.

12. Ibid.

15. Ibid.; Minute Book of the Escoheag Advent Christian Church,
1871——.

14. -Minute Book of the Escoheag Advent Christian Church, 1871-—.

15. JothW. Rathbun, Historical Sketch of Nooseneck Baptist Church,
in Minutes of the Rhode Island Baptist Anniversaries, 1898,
Providence,*pp. 16, 17.

16. Ibid.

 

 Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 9).

As no public meeting house came into being in the town until 1936, the
church, together with the schoolhouse and private home, provided the only
places for popular assembly in the town.

Today, West Greenwich maintains five one—room schoolhouses, several of
the present structures replacing buildings either destroyed by fire or dis—
carded as obsolete. These schools are Nooseneck (1870) located on the Noose—
neck Hill Road in Neoseneck; Kitt's Corner (1875) situated at Kitt's Corner,
also in Hooseneck; Plain (1885) maintained in the Division Street section of
the town; Hitty Corner (1905) lying deep in the woods at Hopkin's Hill; and
William E. Louttit (1956) located on the Victory Highway, in the Sharpe
Street district.

West Greenwich, aside from the several public schools, has but one
publicly owned building, a Town.Ha11, erected in 1956, and located off the
Nooseneck Hill Road in the village of Nooseneck.

Although West Greenwich has no public library, the need therefore is
filled in part, at least, by the State library extension service. Through
this service, books are made available for both adults and school children
in the town during the summer vacation periods. The Nooseneck School is
the usual center of distribution. These libraries are generally known as
"traveling libraries," and are under the general supervision of the State
Librarian, through whose office the extension service operates. 7

The entire countryside of West Greenwich is dotted with numerous pri-
Vate cemeteries, the markers therein containing many distinguished family
names long identified with the history and development of this country
township. Many of these private burial lots are under the perpetual care
of custodians and caretakers annually appointed by the town council. Care
of these private lots is provided for under the terms of various trust
deeds, charging the town council and their successors in office with the
duty of providing for their upkeep.18 Also located i